Kingdom Citizens Outreach Ministries ended a summer of community outreach events by holding a church service and giving out free food, clothes and shoes to the residents of the Myrtlewood Drive apartments on Sept. 23.

“I am always open to allowing positive outreach programs and events to our public housing community,” said Betty Huntly, director of the Wadesboro Housing Authority.

The housing authority’s goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment and to assist the residents in becoming more self-sufficient, and “this is the reason community outreach is so important,” Huntly said. “In order to have growth and access the needs in our communities, outreach programs within the community (are) needed.”

The idea was brought to Huntly, and the management of the housing authority who were involved in the event as well.

“The idea for the event came about while hearing of the needs in the different counties, and after talking to different residences in the area,” said Debra Marsh, member of Kingdom Citizens Outreach Ministries. “We knew we could help make someone’s life a little less stressful by giving and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, along with meeting their physical need.”

Marsh said that after seeking God, they felt led to come to Wadesboro. Some of the other people in the Outreach Ministry are Wayne Marsh and Mark Leak.

Kingdom Citizens Outreach Ministries is made up of a team of Kingdom people working together for one cause: “to demonstrate the love of God in the earth,” Marsh said.

John Fagala and Sole2Soul Missions also helped, and is also “made up of a group of people who have a heart for God, and want to bless as many counties as possible who may be in need of shoes,” Marsh said.

“We are not a non-profit organization,” Marsh said. “The donations simply come from God opening doors, the team members and the ‘who so ever will.’”

Huntly said that the importance of the event was to show the residents, and the community, that there are people who care, and to encourage the families and give them spiritual and economical support.

Marsh said that the importance of the event was to let people know that there is still agape love in this world, and at some point, in everyone’s life, there was a need for a helping hand and someone to reach out just in time.

“We wanted to bring the neighborhood together, and have a fun day of fellowship, music, food and words of inspiration,” Huntly said. “This event not only touched the residents of Myrtlewood homes, but the surrounding communities, and it is really the true meaning of outreach.”

Marsh also said that the importance of bringing church to Myrtlewood was simply doing what the Bible says to do in Luke 14:23.

“People really don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” Marsh said. “Agape love has to be put into action, and sometimes, it means coming outside the four walls.”

Huntly said that divine intervention is something unclear about the ministry. She also said that she “would like to see more positive events brought into the communities because it rebuilds and encourages the residents of their community.”

Marsh said that they are willing, and have been in several neighborhoods in both, North and South Carolina. Marsh said that it was an awesome turnout, and that the residents seem to really enjoy everything. She also said that she would love to come back to do another event.

“The community response was very positive, and I would like to have another and continue build up the community self-esteem, and bring together over 100 people to fellowship in a positive atmosphere,” Huntly said.

Huntly said that this event wrapped up a summer of events in the public housing communities.

Earlier this summer, Milas Cason Recreation Center of Indian Trail partnered with First Baptist Church in Wadesboro to sponsor a Community Cookout on Sikes Avenue, also managed by the Wadesboro Housing Authority.

The center was founded in 2015, and its mission is to “enrich the lives of our youth, adults, and senior citizens in the community through, prevention, intervention, and training,” said founder Tim Cason. “Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at risk youths, therefore, assisting our communities to grow and reach their full potential, thereby, giving the communities a sense of pride of reaching their goal through personal commitment to excellence.”

“We pray that Myrtlewood would be blessed by what God has done, and that they will share with someone else that God is truly a loving and caring God, and has them on his mind,” Marsh said. “I hope that they will stay positive and always encouraged, knowing that someone loves them.”